China Changes Names of 27 Locations in Arunachal Pradesh
China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own, renaming 27 locations. India rejects China's territorial claim.
China Renames 27 Places in Arunachal Pradesh
China has renamed 27 places in Arunachal Pradesh, including 15 mountains, 5 towns, 4 mountain passes, 2 rivers, and a lake. The list was published on China's official website, Global Times, and the names are in Mandarin (Chinese). Over the last 8 years, China claims to have changed names of more than 90 locations in the region.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, called China's actions "foolish" and stated that these name changes would not have any impact. "China has shown creativity in changing names, but Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of India," Jaiswal added.
China's Long-standing Claim
China has long claimed Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory, calling it 'South Tibet' and 'Zangnan.' The naming disputes often flare up at times when India's international standing grows, such as during high-profile events like the 2023 G-20 summit, which took place in Arunachal Pradesh. Similar actions occurred in 2017 when the Dalai Lama visited the region.
In 2024, China renamed 20 more places in Arunachal. The Civil Affairs Ministry of China confirmed that these included 11 residential areas, 12 mountains, 4 rivers, and one lake. These names were also issued in Chinese, Tibetan, and Romanized forms.
China's Claim of Rights Over Arunachal Pradesh
China has never acknowledged Arunachal Pradesh as part of India. It continues to assert that the region is part of 'Southern Tibet' and claims that India wrongfully occupied the area. A 2015 statement from Zhang Yongpan, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested that places in the region should be renamed by China, as the government and ethnic communities like Tibetans and Memba have historically changed the names of these locations.
Will the Name Changes Stand?
No. There are established international procedures for changing a place's name. If a country wishes to change the name of a location, it must first notify the UN Global Geographic Information Management. Geographic experts then visit the area, check facts, and consult with local people. If the name change is found to be valid, it will be recorded officially.
Why Does China Care About Arunachal Pradesh?
Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in northeastern India, sharing borders with Tibet to the north, Bhutan to the west, and Myanmar to the east. Known as the "security shield" of India's northeast, Arunachal Pradesh holds strategic importance. China’s primary interest lies in Tawang, a region in the north-west, where the borders of Bhutan and Tibet meet. This area is particularly significant for China due to its geopolitical and religious importance.